UT professor Amy Mundorff's life after Sept. 11, 2001

Mundorff survived the WTC attacks and worked at NYC's forensic anthropologist identifying victims

After the collapse of the south tower of the World Trade Center in New York, the first of the wounded, including four members of the New York City Medical Examiners Office, with Amy Mundorff, second from left, are brought via boat across the Hudson River to a triage area in Jersey City, N.J., September 11, 2001. Mundorff now teaches forensic anthropology at the University of Tennessee. (Chip East / Special to the News Sentinel)

CHIP EAST

UT assistant professor Amy Z. Mundorff gives an interview recalling her experience during the events of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. Mundorff, who teaches forensic anthropology, survived the attacks on the World Trade Center while working for New York City's Office of Chief Medical Examiner. (AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL STAFF)

Amy Smotherman Burgess

UT assistant professor Amy Z. Mundorff looks through the items she kept surrounding the events of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, including the Sept. 12 edition of the New York Times. Mundorff, who teaches forensic anthropology, survived the attacks on the World Trade Center while working for New York City's Office of Chief Medical Examiner. (AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL STAFF)

Amy Smotherman Burgess

UT assistant professor Amy Z. Mundorff looks through the items she kept surrounding the events of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, including the jacket that she was wearing which she used to protect her head from the falling debris. Mundorff, who teaches forensic anthropology, survived the attacks on the World Trade Center while working for New York City's Office of Chief Medical Examiner. (AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL STAFF)

Amy Smotherman Burgess

A box full of pins, hats, t-shirts and other NYC memorabilia surrounding the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks are some of the items that Amy Z. Mundorff received from people while working for the Office of Chief Medical Examiner as a forensic anthropologist identifying victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. Mundorff, who teaches forensic anthropology at UT, survived the attacks on the World Trade Center.

Amy Smotherman Burgess

UT assistant professor Amy Z. Mundorff looks through the items she kept surrounding the events of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. She holds a box containing rubble that collected into her pockets after she was covered by debris from the falling building. Mundorff, who teaches forensic anthropology, survived the attacks on the World Trade Center while working for New York City's Office of Chief Medical Examiner. (AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL STAFF)

Amy Smotherman Burgess

Rubble that gathered in the pockets of Amy Z. Mundorff when she was buried under the wave of debris as the south tower of the World Trade Center collapsed during the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. Mundorff, who teaches forensic anthropology at UT, survived the attacks on the World Trade Center while working for New York City's Office of Chief Medical Examiner.

Amy Smotherman Burgess

A photo of the medical examiners vehicle that was crushed as the World Trade Center towers collapsed. UT assistant professor Amy Z. Mundorff looks through the items she kept surrounding the events of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. Mundorff, who teaches forensic anthropology, survived the attacks on the World Trade Center while working for New York City's Office of Chief Medical Examiner. She had driven to the towers in the vehicle. (PHOTOS COURTESY OF AMY MUNDORFF)

submitted

A photo of the building, World Financial One, where Amy Mundorff was blown into by debris as the first World Trade Center tower collapsed. UT assistant professor Amy Z. Mundorff looks through the items she kept surrounding the events of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. Mundorff, who teaches forensic anthropology, survived the attacks on the World Trade Center while working for New York City's Office of Chief Medical Examiner. (PHOTOS COURTESY OF AMY MUNDORFF)

submitted

A photo of UT assistant professor Amy Z. Mundorff when she was working days after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. Mundorff, who teaches forensic anthropology at UT, survived the attacks on the World Trade Center while working for New York City's Office of Chief Medical Examiner.

Rich Press

A photo of UT assistant professor Amy Z. Mundorff when she was working days after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. Mundorff, who teaches forensic anthropology at UT, survived the attacks on the World Trade Center while working for New York City's Office of Chief Medical Examiner.

Rich Press

UT assistant professor Amy Z. Mundorff teaches a class in human osteology on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011. Mundorff survived the attacks on the World Trade Center while working for New York City's Office of Chief Medical Examiner. (AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL STAFF)

Amy Smotherman Burgess

UT assistant professor Amy Z. Mundorff teaches a class in human osteology on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011. Mundorff survived the attacks on the World Trade Center while working for New York City's Office of Chief Medical Examiner. (AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL STAFF)